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Priority admissions are now available - Call 1300 856 847
Priority admissions are now available
Call 1300 856 847
Ice gets its name from its appearance. It typically looks like small, clear or white crystals, similar to rock salt or shards of glass, though it can also appear as a coarse white or brown powder with a strong smell and a bitter taste. It is sometimes referred to by other names, including crystal meth, meth, crystal, glass, shards, or tina.
Out of the three main types of methamphetamines (ice, speed and base), ice has become the dominant one over the past decade, and that’s largely down to how intense its effects are compared to other drugs.
Ice is a synthetic stimulant drug, meaning it is entirely man-made and has no medical application in its street form. It frequently contains highly toxic substances, with drain cleaner, bleach, and antifreeze being common adulterants responsible for many of its most serious physical and neurological effects.
Ice is commonly consumed by smoking or injection, though it can also be swallowed or snorted. The method of ingestion directly affects how quickly the effects are felt. Smoking and injecting produce the fastest and most intense response, which is a significant factor in how rapidly dependence can develop.
Ice is considered highly addictive, and the speed at which ice alters the brain’s reward system means that even people with no prior history of addiction can find themselves struggling to stop. It reflects how powerfully this drug affects the brain.
The immediate risks of ice use, even if it is a once-off use, can be quite dramatic; largely because it is impossible to know exactly what each batch contains or which harmful toxins the user is ingesting. Even first-time users can experience acute cardiovascular events, including heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and seizure, depending on the dose and purity of the drug.
Beyond the direct medical risks, ice has a significant effect on judgement and impulse control. People under the influence are much more likely to engage in activities that carry serious consequences for themselves and those around them, including violent behaviour, unsafe sexual activity, self-harm, and the sharing of injecting equipment.
When ice is used over extended periods, users are at risk of experiencing devastating health problems. Ice is also associated with an increased risk of heart, lung, and kidney problems, severe dental deterioration (often referred to as “meth mouth”), and longer-term impacts on memory, concentration, and decision-making.
Learn more about the physical effects of ice
Ice is an upper, which means it speeds up the messages between the brain and the body, as well as sending the body’s production of ‘happy chemicals’ into overdrive.
Ice wreaks absolute havoc with the user’s brain chemistry. It increases the production of dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenalin by up to 1,000 times the normal level.
As a result of this overproduction, persons high on ice are likely to experience:
Ice can also have a huge variety of unpleasant side effects – for both first-time and regular users. Side effects of taking ice may include:
Depending on how it is ingested, an ice high can come on almost instantly or take up to fifteen minutes to take effect. The high itself can last up to twelve hours, though it takes much longer for the last traces to leave the body and even longer for the brain’s chemistry to begin returning to normal.
First-time users will generally need around three days before their system stabilises, while regular use over a sustained period can mean a recovery period of roughly nine months before neurotransmitter systems begin to normalise.
The long-term toll of this disruption is reflected in hospitalisation data, with a 2024 UNSW study finding that drug-induced psychosis accounted for nearly 49% of all amphetamine-related hospital admissions in 2021–22, followed by dependence (23%) and acute intoxication (14%).
Ice not only increases the production of the ‘happy chemicals’, but it also disables the brain’s ability to reabsorb them; so, once the users’ brains are depleted, they are in for a horrendous crash.
Depending on how much ice a person has taken and how frequently the drug is used, the comedown can start within 12 or even 24 hours of using. Symptoms most commonly include:
The comedown is frequently the point at which people use again, not to get high, but simply to get some relief from how unwell they feel. That pattern of using to feel less terrible, rather than to feel good, is one of the main reasons it’s so hard to stop, and is something that our clinical team see on an everyday basis.
The comedown is also where underlying mental health difficulties tend to surface the most. Anxiety, depression, and paranoia that were masked during the high can hit hard during this phase, and for many people it becomes difficult to separate what the drug is doing from what was already there.
This is why treatment that addresses both the substance use and the mental health picture together, known as dual diagnosis treatment, tends to give people a much stronger foundation for recovery.
The comedown period lasts until the active components of the drug have left the user’s system, which is when withdrawal sets in. The acute withdrawal period of meth use can last up to 14 days, and during this time, people are likely to experience:
It is important to understand that the withdrawal symptoms, such as the cravings for the drug and the mood swings, can continue for up to 18 months in cases of extreme habitual drug abuse.
This is known as chronic withdrawal, and it is one of the most significant risk factors for relapse during recovery, particularly for people who attempt to stop without ongoing clinical support.
An ice overdose can occur the first time someone uses the drug, particularly if the batch is unusually potent or has been mixed with more than one drug. Signs that someone may be experiencing an ice-related medical emergency include chest pain, difficulty breathing, seizures, severe confusion or agitation, loss of consciousness, or a very high or irregular heart rate.
Ice can also be used alongside other substances, and this significantly increases the risk of a serious adverse event. Mixing ice with depressants such as alcohol, GHB, or benzodiazepines is particularly dangerous, as the stimulant effects of ice can mask the sedative effects of the other drug, making it difficult to gauge how much of either has been consumed.
If you suspect someone has overdosed on ice, call 000 immediately and ask for an ambulance. Tell the paramedics what the person has taken. They are there to help and, in most circumstances, are not required to involve the police unless there is a risk to safety or a crime has been committed. Do not leave the person alone while waiting for help to arrive.
There’s no safe level of ice use, but some patterns are a clearer signal that things have escalated beyond occasional use. If someone is using more frequently than they intended, finding it difficult to go without it, continuing to use despite negative consequences at work, in relationships, or with their health, or spending significant time and money focused on obtaining and using the drug, these are signs that drug dependence may have developed.
For families, the signs can be harder to read. Noticeable changes in behaviour, mood, sleep, appearance, or finances, particularly when they appear together and persist over time, are worth taking seriously, even if the person is reluctant to acknowledge there’s a problem.
Our guide on how to help a loved one struggling with ice addiction has advice on what to do from there.
While recovery from ice addiction takes time and commitment, it is absolutely possible. Detox gets the drug out of the body, but lasting change means addressing what’s underneath it too, which is why professional treatment programs tend to give people a much stronger chance of long-term recovery than detox alone.
At Hader Clinic Queensland, our residential treatment program is designed to support people through every stage of that process, from medically supervised detox and withdrawal through to the longer therapeutic work that follows. Our multidisciplinary team brings together years of clinical expertise and, for some members, personal experience of recovery, which means the people who walk through our doors are met with both understanding and practical support from day one.
If you’re concerned about your own use or that of someone close to you, our team is always here to have a conversation about what support can look like.
Learn more about ice addiction treatment
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Dr Mel Symon is the Director of Hader Group QLD, leading both Hader Clinic Queensland and Hader Clinic Queensland Private. With more than 30 years of experience in human services and over 20 years as a founder and business leader, Mel has played a central role in establishing and growing Queensland’s leading addiction treatment services.
Mel holds a PhD in Addiction Treatment from the University of Queensland, along with a Master of Mental Health, Master of Professional Management, and a Bachelor of Social Science. Since 2016, she has overseen the development of the 40-bed Hader Clinic Queensland residential rehabilitation program and, in 2021, the creation and opening of the 25-bed Hader Clinic Queensland Private Hospital.
Passionate about lifelong recovery, Mel is dedicated to evidence-based care, meaningful change, and supporting individuals to rebuild their lives through sustainable recovery pathways.
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